Colorado Redistricting Trial Begins In Court This Morning

Posted:
10/11/2011 2:01 pm EDT
Updated:
12/11/2011 5:12 am EST

Chairman Mario Carrera, left, and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb listen to testimony redrawing state legislative districts and viewing proposed final maps during a hearing in Denver on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. The 11-member bipartisan commission will be submitting its proposed new districts to the State Supreme Court for approval by Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) | AP

A trial beginning in Denver District Court this morning will decide the boundaries of Colorado's congressional districts.

Chief Judge Robert Hyatt will have about six maps to consider after the Legislature failed to attain consensus on a new map, redrawn every 10 years to reflect the latest Census data. Among the Democrat and Republican-drawn maps are also proposed boundaries drafted by the Latino Forum and Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, the city of Aurora, Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and Douglas County.

Census data shows that one-fifth of Colorado's population is Hispanic, and the maps drawn by Hispanic groups say they aim to reflect that. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population has jumped by over 300,000.

Republicans have said their maps would keep the congressional boundaries largely intact, but Democrats say they've drawn more competitive maps, arguing that the state has changed fundamentally.